Great Coasters Delivers Thriller to China, New
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TM www.AmusementToday.com Vol. 14, Issue 12 MARCH 2011 $5.00 Great Coasters delivers thriller to China, new trains to Busch Tampa New China coaster GCII Millennium Flyer years, BGT has undertaken a major rehab of its signature is a twisted mountain trains added to wooden coaster with the aim wooden masterpiece Busch Garden's Gwazi of smoothing the ride ex- Scott Rutherford Scott Rutherford perience and improving its popularity with guests. This Amusement Today Amusement Today included the re-tracking of First there was the Great Originally opened in the Lion (2009) and the Tiger Wall of China, and then Great 1999, Busch Gardens Tampa (2010) courses. The final com- Coasters International, Inc. Bay's Gwazi has remained the ponent of this multi-million got involved and created its Southeast’s largest and fastest dollar overhaul was the pur- latest wonder of the modern double wooden roller coaster. chase of four new 12-car GCII- world — the Mountain Flyer Designed and built by Great designed Millennium Flyer at OCT's Knight Valley, Shen- Coasters International, Inc., trains to replace the rides' zhen, Guangdong, China. the 105-foot-tall ride is an in- original rolling stock. GCII's latest conquest — PHOTO COURTESY GCII tricate, complicated dueling On Saturday, Jan. 22, its 17th project and the first GCII's impressive Mountain Flyer at Knight Valley is the twister design that features Gwazi reopened to rave re- 7,016 feet of track, numerous views from coaster enthusi- one in Asia for the Pennsylva- company's first foray into the Asian market, and to date nia-based company — ranks crossovers and near-misses. asts and the general public. ranks as its longest, tallest and fastest single-track wood- During the past several 4See GWAZI, page 4 as the company's longest, tall- en roller coaster. Along with spectacular view's of the Chi- est, fastest and most powerful nese landscape, the 4,817-foot-long ride features a unique single-track wooden coaster to date. 133-foot triple-down first drop. Knight Valley chose the Flyer begins with a quick as- stances of airtime, a station perfectly appropriate name cent to the top of the 147-foot- fly-through, station fly-by, of Mountain Flyer for this tall lift. A gentle swirling helix and 80-degree banking as well sprawling behemoth while atop the crest affords riders a as a tunneled turn near ride's GCII's lead designer, Jeff Pike, spectacular view of Dameisha end. made spectacular use of the and Yantian Bay (South China Amusement Today spoke park's natural hilly terrain Sea) over 500 feet below. This with GCII's Chris Gray about to produce a coaster like no relatively tranquil opening is the inspiration for the Moun- other. With much of the sup- followed by one of the wild- tain Flyer. "The topography port structure clinging to the est, most original first drops was the biggest inspiration," steep mountain slopes and the ever conceived: a 133-foot said Gray. "There was a castle remainder sporting a relative- triple-dipping dive to the base at the top of the mountain that ly low profile, this phenom- of the valley floor. Reaching the park wanted the coaster to AT PHOTO / GARY SLADE enal ride offers an intense and a top speed of 61.2 mph, the go though. Unfortunately the seemingly out-of-control ride two 12-car Millennium Flyers castle was demolished half- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay started the 2011 season off experience craved by thrill- then rocket along an expertly- way through the ride's con- with a roar by adding four new Millennium Flyer trains seekers. crafted 4,817-foot-long course struction due to the belief that from Great Coasters International to the park's Gwazi A flight aboard Mountain peppered with numerous in- 4See CHINA, page 4 wooden coaster. INTERNATIONAL AMUSEMENT PARKS WATERPARKS BUSINESS MIDWAY/CLASSIFIEDS SEE PAGES 6-8 SEE PAGES 9-17 SEE PAGES 18-26 SEE PAGES 27-31 SEE PAGES 32-39 INSIDE The success of Bob's Space Racers new Stinky Feet Dated material. material. Dated game continues with the RUSH! introduction of the mobile version for carnival opera- NEWSPAPER POSTMASTER: PLEASE 28, 2011 February Mailed Monday, tors as seen at Gibtown. To PERMIT # 2069 # PERMIT date, more than 100 units FT. WORTH TX WORTH FT. PAID have been sold. For this US POSTAGE US and other Gibtown show PRSRT STD PRSRT news see Midway, page 32. 2 AMUSEMENT TODAY March 2011 TM Gary Slade Founder and Publisher [email protected] Gibtown attendees offer ideas Amusement Today exhibited for the first time this year at the 2011 International Independent Show- men’s Association annual show, Feb. 8-12, in Gib- sonton, Fla. While AT has distributed newspapers at the show’s breezeway area for many years, this was the first year to be inside as an exhibitor. In visiting with the many carnival/concession owners and operators who stopped by the AT booth, two things were clear. The carnival industry still re- members and misses Amusement Business (the long- time publication ceased operation in 2006) but at the same time were appreciative of what AT has done to provide news on carnivals and fairs. Scott Rutherford While AB was still publishing, AT never covered the outdoor amusement industry, knowing all too Good riddance old man winter well the lock AB had on this segment of the indus- I believe just everyone is ready to say trains – BGT will be a popular destination try. Once AB closed, AT jumped right in and began goodbye to Winter 2010-11. These past for thrillseekers like me. few months have ravaged North America Zippin Pippin – Bay Beach is busy covering the carnivals and midways. The Midway as well as many other parts of the world recreating the famed wooden coaster that section was launched, and like its placement in AB, with some of the worst weather seen once graced Tennessee’s Libertyland. I it was placed at the back of AT. No strangers to the in decades. Though I tend to enjoy the look forward to visiting Green Bay for a outdoor amusement industry, former AB staffers dark, quiet months of the off-season for spin on this John Miller-inspired out and personal introspection, I’m ready for the back. Sue Nichols, Beth Jenkins, Pam Sherborne and Mary- warm weather and all that it brings. Rutherford Wooden Warrior – The Gravity Wade Burnside all found their way into the print As one always eager to sample the Group’s new junior wooden coaster is side of Amusement Today. latest and greatest the industry rolls out each a perfect addition to Connecticut’s charming spring, there are quite a few intriguing attractions Quassy Park. This founder and publisher of Amusement to look forward to with the upcoming season. Black Diamond – Yet another admirable pres- Today is proud of what this staff has done to Here are few of my favorites: ervation project by the good folks at Knoebels. promote, cover and document this segment of our New Texas Giant – all eyes are on Six Flags The rescue of Wildwood’s Golden Nugget will be amusement industry. We listened to your sugges- Over Texas and the flagship park’s signature a highlight, but might there also be a chance the tions at this year’s Gibtown show and will be taking wooden roller coaster. Never has a wooden coast- Flying Turns could take flight before year’s end. er gone through a makeover quite like this. If One can hope ... steps in the coming months to put those additional all goes as the owners hope, Rocky Mountain And, of course, the debut of Zamperla’s editorial/circulation requests into action. Construction may find themselves very busy in Scream Zone at Coney Island just warms my Until then, thanks to all who have supported us the coming months. heart, especially since it will feature a steel launch with either news, advertising or subscriptions. Hold Cheetah Hunt – Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is coaster inspired by the original Steeplechase ride. sparing no expense in creating it’s new Cheetah- I find it encouraging that the hallowed Brooklyn on, the ride is just beginning. centric exhibit. At the center of it all is Cheetah beach where it all began is finally starting to enjoy —Gary Slade Hunt, an LSM Launch Coaster from Intaride. the resurrection and recognition it deserves. Along with the park’s reborn Gwazi wooden Good luck to everyone and have a spectacu- COMPLETE GIBTOWN RECAP...SEE PAGE 32 coaster – thanks to its new GCII Millennium Flyer lar 2011 season! 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